Hello folks, I'm thinking about taking the ACT instead of the SAT. Can anyone provide a rundown of what's covered on the ACT? Like, what subjects are being tested and what kind of weight does each carry for my composite score? Thanks!
The ACT has four main sections: English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science. There is also an optional Writing section. Here's a brief overview of what each of these sections looks like:
1. English: This section tests your understanding of English grammar and usage, including punctuation, grammar and usage, sentence structure, strategy, organization, and style. It includes 75 questions over 45 minutes.
2. Mathematics: This section has 60 mathematics questions over a 60-minute period. It covers various topics including numbers and quantity, algebra, functions, geometry, and statistics and probability. Calculators are allowed on this section.
3. Reading: This section covers reading comprehension. You will be given 35 minutes to answer 40 questions pertaining to four reading passages, one each of Prose Fiction, Social Science, Humanities, and Natural Science.
4. Science: Unlike what the name implies, the Science section doesn't really test your knowledge of scientific facts. Instead, it checks your interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem-solving skills based on the given scientific data.
The Writing section is optional and won't affect your composite score. If you opt to take it, you'll be asked to write an essay in response to a prompt.
Each of the four main sections is scored on a scale of 1-36. Your composite ACT score is the average of your scores on these four sections, also on a scale from 1-36. Therefore, each section carries equal weight in your composite score.
The writing optional score is separate and doesn't get factored into the composite - it's actually scored on a totally separate scale (2-12, not 1-36). However, some colleges may still require or recommend it. Make sure to check the testing requirements for each of your prospective colleges.
If you'd like to learn more about the ACT, including the details of the particular sections, I'd check out CollegeVine's series of free blog posts focused on ACT prep specifically: https://blog.collegevine.com/category/standardized-tests/act/. Good luck with your test-taking journey!
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